Internet pharmacies may look like a bargain deal for many pet
owners. Their advertisements claim lower prices than those you pay
at the vet’s office. But are they really? And how do you know
you’re getting good quality medication?
Internet pharmacies may look like a bargain deal for many pet owners. Their advertisements claim lower prices than those you pay at the vet’s office. But are they really? And how do you know you’re getting good quality medication? Here are several reasons why you should think twice before you place that online order.
First, costs can be deceptive. In a survey comparing prices for flea control products at local veterinary hospitals with a popular online pharmacy in Florida, several local vet’s prices were within 3 percent of the online pharmacy. In some cases, the medications were actually cheaper at the vet’s office!
But here’s another, more important reason that might make you reconsider placing your order online. The internet is full of people and companies who sell counterfeit drugs. That’s right, some drugs purchased by computer aren’t always what they’re supposed to be. Many of the drugs sold on the internet look the same and have the same name. But some might be produced overseas, where quality control during production is poor. A few are just plain misrepresented. They’re bogus.
So in many cases, the consumer can’t be sure that what’s in the package is genuine or not. It’s a perfect example of the old phrase, “buyer beware.”
The next time you need some heartworm prevention or flea control meds, consider buying from your local vet. At least you’ll know that the quality of the drugs is excellent and they’ll do the job. And in the end, you might even save a little.
Q:
Our vet diagnosed our dog, Petrus, with an irregular heart beat. She says that he may have congestive heart failure. How can we find out how serious this problem is? Do we have to take him to a specialist at the vet school in Davis?
A:
The very best way to determine the serious nature of a heart problem is to have a veterinary cardiologist do a thorough evaluation. This includes a physical exam as well an ultrasound evaluation (called an echocardiogram). It’s the only way to properly identify the problem and choose the correct medication for treatment.
Some local veterinarians have a board-certified cardiologist available on call to examine pets like Petrus, and this would be the most convenient. Ask your vet if this is possible. If not, there are veterinary specialty clinics in our area and a trip to one of these or to the veterinary school will give you the quickest and most accurate answers to your questions about Petrus. Congestive heart failure is often very manageable with medications. I hope Petrus responds well to his treatments.
Q:
I like to hike with my lab, Bilge, and we go all over the hills near Mount Madonna. Barney is like any other dog and he likes to pick up things in his mouth. We found a dead fox the other day, and he was licking the carcass. Are there any dangers to this when he finds something that smells good (at least to him)?
A:
You shouldn’t let Bilge ingest anything from a dead animal. This is far too dangerous for several reasons.
First, nasty bacterial overgrowth might give him a bad case of gastroenteritis. The indigestion and dehydration that goes with this could be severe enough to put him in the hospital. But there are more serious dangers. Certain contagious organisms and toxins can be found in the flesh of a dead animal.
Leptospira is a bacterium that occasionally infects wildlife. It causes life-threatening problems with the liver and kidneys and can survive in the carcass for a long time after the death of its victim. Another bacterium, clostridium, is another threat. There are several different clostridial types, but the one that causes the most concern is clostridium botulinum, the organism that causes botulism.
Finally, let’s talk about bacillus anthracis, the anthrax bacterium. Anthrax organisms are in the soil in many parts of South County, and they survive for many, many years. Anthrax thrives in necrotic flesh (a dead animal’s carcass), so be careful. The best advice is to keep Bilge away from any dead animals. You never know what he might pick up and bring home.
